My question involves unemployment benefits for the state of: CA

I have done some paid research groups last year (2012) and I had never given my Social Security # nor did they ever ask for it. I get a voicemail yesterday from the research group saying the accounting dept needs my SS# for the 1099 and confirmation of my mailing address. Am I obligated to give it to them and will UI find out or what happens? like i said i have never given my SS# out to them nor was I under the impression that I had to give it to them cause they never said I needed too or said in the future that I would have to. I asked my friend if he has ever gotten a call from the research groups for tax reasons and he said no. I wasn't an employee for them nor worked on contract or part time it was simply for some surveys that i got paid for. Is it illegal for a research group to ask for my SS# even when they never told me from the start that they would need it? that # is something that i don't hand out like its candy. Any advice on what I should do or not do? Thanks


Also too, I got let go from my job in late March 2012 and went on unemployment early to mid April 2012. Do i report my wages from Jan to March to UI or does that not count since obviously I wasnt on UI then but rather file my earnings to UI since collecting from April?